Israel election committee says no evidence Arab parties 'stole' the vote

The acting head of Israel's Central Elections Committee rejected claims that Arab parties rigged the parliamentary vote, saying there is no evidence of illegal activity linked to their strong showing.

Acting director Din Livne said: "There are no indications that Arab parties illegally collected votes." A senior police official also described the accusations as "a propaganda tactic without any grounding in facts."

Livne noted that election authorities recorded fewer complaints about irregularities than in previous contests, and reiterated that the committee has found no signs of systemic fraud.

Police promise investigations of any complaints

Police Commissioner Daniel Levi said authorities will examine every allegation thoroughly and impartially. "Any complaint regarding the elections will be thoroughly and impartially investigated. In cases of suspected criminal conduct, the police will act decisively to establish the truth and bring those responsible to justice," he said.

Preliminary results show Arab parties nearly doubled their representation compared with the 2022 parliamentary vote, winning a total of 19 of the Knesset's 120 seats.

The right-wing Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused opponents of election theft, claiming the vote had been "stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and the destruction of the Jewish state." Authorities say such allegations lack factual basis and have urged that any evidence be submitted for formal review.

Photo: press material from the event